The Source is Lamin-Art’s monthly e-newsletter addressing the needs of both the architectural woodworking and design community. It features the latest information about our products and their application, interesting design trends, innovative installations, helpful fabrication tips, and much more.

Lamin-Art high-pressure decorative laminate is sold directly through our corporate headquarters near Chicago, Illinois. Our customer service representatives are available to take your order Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5pm Central Time at 1-800-323-7624.

Lamin-Art operates on a first-ordered, first-shipped basis with over 85% of orders shipped from our warehouse outside Chicago, IL within 48 hours from the time the order is taken. Non-stock or out-of-stock items typically ship in less than 10 days.

Lamin-Art offers a selection of genuine, pre-finished wood veneers under the Veneer-Art. Veneer-Art is manufactured using a similar process as conventional high-pressure laminate, giving the product the same surface durability and ease of application, but using real wood veneers instead of decorative printed papers. Veneer-Art is made only using real – never reconstituted – wood, and is offered in a selection of finishes that enhance the natural grain structure of each species.

A wide selection of realistic-looking wood reproductions can also be found under the Premium Wood Prints collection; a series of high-pressure decorative laminates made using the latest in printing and embossing technology in order to offer a natural look.

The Pearlescence collection also offers a wide selection of shimmering colors available in several finishes, which may be a suitable option when a subtle metallic look is desired. Pearlescence products are made using printed decorative papers; they do not contain metal foils.

HPL Basics

Lamin-Art brand high-pressure decorative laminate is manufactured by laminating phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets with melamine resin-impregnated decorative and overlay sheets. The lamination is performed under a minimum pressure of 1,000 psi (2,068 kPa) and at a temperature of approximately 300°F (149°C). The pressed laminate is trimmed to various sizes, and the back is sanded to provide uniform thickness, and to facilitate adhesive bonding.

We can produce special sizes on select items in our high-pressure decorative laminate line. Special door sizes (3’ X 7’ and 3’ X 8’ sheets) are available for several of our Premium Wood Prints (some exclusions apply). There is a minimum order of 50 sheets of an identical pattern, 2 week lead time, and a no return policy associated with these custom size orders.

In addition, we can also produce 5’ X 12’ sheets on select items. Longer lead times will also apply for 5’ X 12’ sheets. Contact your local Architectural Representative or our Customer Service Department for more information on special sizes.

Lamin-Art has removed minimum order requirements for all made-to-order items in our line. This includes special order post-forming grade or fire-rated material and any non-stock finishes, as well as our exclusive Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection for Pearlescence products. We highly recommend viewing a sample of the product with Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection prior to placing an order. Please contact Customer Service for more information.

For years, cosmetic companies have incorporated eye-catching, subtle sparkles in their products to capture attention. Taking cues from the cosmetics industry, Lamin-Art first employed pearlized inks to create decorative laminates in 1984. Unlike standard solid color or patterned decorative laminates, Pearlescence products are fluid, full of movement and pulsing with rhythmic vitality. Pearlized products refract light, making surfaces appear more expressive while adding visual depth. With their eye-catching luster, Pearlescence products are perfect for a broad range of commercial applications including retail, exhibit displays, hotels, casinos, restaurants and institutional designs such as schools and libraries.

Pearlescence is achieved in two steps: First, special inks that incorporate pearlized particles are used on the printed decorative paper. Second, a reduced amount of melamine is used in the manufacturing process to allow the inks to reflect and refract light for maximum visual impact. Consequently, since the melamine resin gives high-pressure laminate its wear resistance, Pearlescence products do not meet NEMA standards for abrasion/scratch resistance (the NEMA standard is 400 revolutions on a Taber Abrader; Pearlescence products achieve 100-300 cycles). Therefore, we DO NOT recommend specifying Pearlescence laminates for high-wear horizontal applications. If you would like to specify a Pearlescence product for a horizontal application, we suggest specifying it in Textured or Velva-Tex finish with the addition of the Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection option.

Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection is the result of a manufacturing process exclusive to Lamin-Art that enhances the durability and versatility of our Pearlescence laminates. With the addition of Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection, Pearlescence items may be safely specified for any interior horizontal or vertical application regardless of the amount of wear the end product will face. The option of Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection is only available for items ordered in Textured or Velva-Tex finish. Items identified with an O in our Stock List, library binder swatch cards and website are available for specification with Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection.

Pearlescence items can be found in our Pearlescence, Premium Wood Prints, and Abstracts collections. All Pearlescence items are identified with a P in our Stock List, on our library binder swatch cards, and on our website.

There may be limited availability of sheets for an item that has been discontinued. If you are considering a recently discontinued item for a project or have a pending specification for an item that has been discontinued, please contact your local Architectural Representative or our Customer Service Department for availability.

Many of our products can be manufactured in different thicknesses, sizes and surface finishes. For larger projects, we can also design made-to-order laminates to meet your special requirements. In both cases, we would be able to provide samples for your approval prior to placing an order. Please contact us for more information.

Yes, NSF International has certified Lamin-Art high-pressure decorative laminate as a safe surfacing material for food preparation areas in commercial applications. The NSF #35 "Laminated Plastic for Surfacing for Food Service Equipment" certificate is available upon request.

HPL Technical Iformation

The term “grade” actually refers to the thickness of the laminate. Standard Grade (GP48) laminate is .048” (1.2mm) thick and is the most commonly used grade of laminate. It is recommended for any horizontal or vertical applications where maximum impact-resistance and durability are required. Vertical Grade (GP28) laminate is much thinner at .028” (0.7mm) thick. It is suitable for applications that require a more pliable sheet and where impact resistance isn’t as critical. As the name implies, vertical grade is commonly used for vertical applications.

There are two ways in which laminate can be bent; either cold or with the addition of heat. Standard Grade (GP48) laminates can be cold bent to a maximum radius of 12" (304.8 mm). Vertical Grade (GP28) laminates can be cold bent to a maximum radius of 7” (177.8 mm). By applying heat to the area of the sheet that you want to bend (about 325°F or 162°C), you can perform an outside bend on Standard Grade (GP48) laminate down to 4” (101.6 mm). With heat applied, Vertical Grade (GP28) laminate can bend to 5/8” (15.88 mm). Due to the lower blistering point of the pearlescent pigments in our Pearlescence items (found under the Pearlescence Solid Colors, Premium Wood Prints and Abstracts collections), we do not recommend applying heat to Pearlescence products; they should always be cold bent.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is a standards association that in conjunction with the manufacturers of high pressure decorative laminate, has established performance standards for our industry such as abrasion, impact and burn resistance. Unless otherwise noted, Lamin-Art products meet or exceed applicable NEMA LD3-2005 standards for high pressure decorative laminates.

HPL Installation and Maintenance

Laminate should be applied to suitable substrates such as 45 lb. density particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard (HDF), or any substrate that meets the ANSI 208.1 or 208.2 standards. We do not recommend using plywood, plaster, gypsum board and concrete.

Laminate should be bonded to the substrate using contact, PVA, urea, resorcinol or hot-melt adhesives following the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. The substrate surface must be smooth and free of grease, dust and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion.

Laminate and substrate should be allowed to acclimate for at least 72 hours in the same ambient conditions. All surfaces to be laminated should be inspected prior to lamination to ensure that they are clean and free of surface defects.

HPL Environmental Information

Yes, our high-pressure decorative laminates have been GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD Children & Schools® certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI). At this time, our Veneer-Art line of high-performance pre-finished wood veneers has not achieved GREENGUARD certification.

No product or building material can accurately be classified as "LEED certified." The LEED Green Building Rating System was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council to classify entire building projects, not individual products. Lamin-Art is a proud member of the USGBC.
View our Environmental Statement
View our LEED Requirements Information Sheet

The manufacture of our laminate products is done at our factory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and is distributed to most of the U.S. through our corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, Lamin-Art products are also available through a few distributors, mainly in Canada.

Lamin-Art is concerned about our environmental impact and that of the production and distribution of our high-pressure decorative laminates. As a committed and responsible member of the global community, we continuously strive to conserve energy and resources, reduce pollution and source raw materials that are environmentally friendly. Lamin-Art is a proud member of the USGBC, and, back in 2006, we have completed a conversion of our entire fleet of company vehicles to Toyota Prius, which offers greater fuel efficiency and low emissions. We utilize the minimal amount of material required to pack and ship our products. Our products typically ship either in cardboard boxes that are manufactured with approximately 75% post-consumer recycled paper or on shipping pallets. Both materials are either re-useable (i.e. the pallets) or recyclable (i.e. the boxes). Our sample department actively recycles product binders as well as sample chips for re-use in the marketplace, and discontinued products are often donated to design schools rather than discarded as waste. The kraft papers used to manufacture our high-pressure decorative laminates are sourced from responsibly managed forests that are third-party certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). In order to achieve this certification, forest products used in the production of paper pulp are harvested and replaced within a ten-year cycle or less. No rain forest timber or tropical hardwoods are used in our products. In addition, our products do not contain, nor are they manufactured with ozone-depleting substances. For more information on Lamin-Art's environmental philosophy, view our Environmental Statement.

Yes, rapidly renewable resources are materials that are made from plants typically harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter. The kraft paper that is used to manufacture Lamin-Art high-pressure decorative laminate is sourced from responsibly managed forests that have been third-party certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). In order to meet the stringent requirements of this certification, forest products used in the production of paper pulp must be harvested and replaced within a ten-year cycle or less. Kraft paper makes up approximately 75-80% of the paper composition of high-pressure decorative laminate depending upon the grade of material specified.

Veneer-Art Basics

Veneer-Art is manufactured with natural, not reconstituted wood veneers that are impregnated with a protective melamine resin and fused with phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets. The result is a pre-finished, ready-to-fabricate veneer that features a maintenance-free, scratch-resistant surface.

Veneer-Art is made with natural wood veneers, not reconstituted or engineered wood veneers. While reconstituted wood veneers can offer advantages in terms of cost and consistency, natural wood veneers provide a richness of grain, variety, and uniqueness that is hard to replicate in a reconstituted product.

Veneer-Art is regularly stocked in 4’ X 10’ sheets; however, 4’ X 8’ sheets are also available on a made-to-order basis. Also, Veneer-Art is available in a variety of door-sizes. A longer lead time may apply on non-stock items; contact your Architectural Representative or Customer Service for more information.

Veneer-Art has been successfully installed in many public and commercial environments for more than 25 years. It is perfectly suited for architectural applications in high-traffic environments, as well as on commercial furniture, fixtures, and casework, such as: architectural doors, wall paneling, elevator cabs, reception areas, transaction counters, table tops, cabinets, hospitality furniture, and restroom vanities and partitions. To view some high-profile Veneer-Art projects, consult our Portfolio.

Veneer-Art Technical Information

Veneer-Art is manufactured to have the same wear resistance properties as a high-pressure decorative laminate. Since Veneer-Art is imported from Europe, it has been tested according to European performance standards (EN 438-2) for high-pressure decorative laminate. It has been shown to achieve 350 cycles or more on a Taber Abrader (minimum NEMA standards in the U.S. are 400 cycles).

Due to the inherent properties of wood and differing numbers of sheets cut from any given log, variations in color and grain will appear from one sheet to another. This is not a defect, rather a natural occurrence that adds to the character and warmth provided by a real wood veneer. A natural maturing and mellowing of color may also occur with age.

Due to the variations in grain structure of the real wood veneers, the bending characteristics are slightly different than high-pressure decorative laminates. Typically, we advise that Veneer-Art should only be cold bent to a radius no smaller than 8”. We do not recommend post-forming Veneer-Art.

Veneer-Art Installation and Maintenance

No, Veneer-Art is already pre-finished with melamine resin. Veneer-Art items are offered in a selection of finishes that provide a natural appearance while enhancing the grain structure of any wood species.

Like all wood-based products, Veneer-Art will react to ambient conditions. Veneer-Art and the substrate to which it is applied may absorb moisture and expand in high relative humidity or lose moisture and shrink in low relative humidity. Veneer-Art and the substrate to which it will be applied must acclimate to the same ambient conditions for 8-10 days prior to fabrication. Optimum conditions are approximately 64°F to 72°F (18°C to 22°C) with a relative humidity of 50% to 60%. Provisions should be made for the circulation of air around the components.

No, Veneer-Art can be fabricated using the same tools, materials, and adhesives normally used to fabricate high-pressure decorative laminate, with the exception of contact adhesives, which should be limited to small surface areas only when no other adhesives can be employed. We also strongly recommend that special care be taken to seal the porous edges of the veneer with a diluted polyurethane varnish. This will minimize absorption of moisture which can adversely impact the real wood veneer.

While Veneer-Art does not specifically require a special type of adhesive, the strength of the bond between Veneer-Art and its substrate determines the amount of stress that may be transmitted to the substrate by the product. Gluing Veneer-Art with the use of a hot or cold press is the preferred method of application. Conventional adhesives normally applied to high-pressure laminate such as PVA, urea, resorcinol or hot-melt adhesives are recommended. The substrate surface must be smooth and free of grease, dust and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion. When gluing with a hot press, do not exceed 140°F (60°C). Above that temperature, there is a risk of harmful tension that could affect adhesion. When no laminating press is available, standard contact adhesives may be used on small surface areas only (typically smaller than 2’ x 4’). It is crucial to ensure excellent coverage of both surfaces to be bonded and to apply a pressure of 50 to 75 pounds per square inch to the assembly. In either case, always consult and closely follow your adhesive manufacturer’s directions.

Edgebanding manufactured with the same constituent veneer is available for all items in the line in Tru-Grain™ finish. Edgebanding strips are 120” long, 0.98” wide and .027” thick. We also recommend taking advantage of the real wood appearance of Veneer-Art by employing creative woodworking techniques to reduce the appearance of edge lines when finishing edges. It is possible to create the appearance of solid wood by using a miter fold, solid edge or self-edge technique.

Veneer-Art should be cleaned with a damp cloth and ordinary soap or household cleaner. Stubborn stains may require organic solvents such as alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner or paint solvents. NOTE: These solvents will not harm the Veneer-Art surface, but are flammable, and will attack contact adhesives at the glue line edges.

Veneer-Art can be applied to many types of base material as long as the surface is perfectly flat and clean. Among the recommended substrates: 45lb. density particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard (HDF), or any substrate that meets ANSI 208.1 and 208.2 standards. Gluing to a metal surface requires careful preparation of the surface with particular attention paid to thorough degreasing with a strong solvent.

Veneer-Art Environmental Information

Veneer-Art is a chemically inert product releasing virtually no gas. Due to its low permeability, it also acts as a barrier against possible formaldehyde emissions from the substrate. Its own formaldehyde emission levels are no more than 0.013 PPM when bonded to particleboard. However, at this time, these test results have not been independently verified by a third-party certification program such as GREENGUARD.

Metal-Art Basics

Metal-Art is manufactured with aluminum foil and an epoxy varnish protective layer which are fused with phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets. The result is a pre-finished, ready-to-fabricate metal laminate which is suitable for interior vertical applications similar to vertical grade high-pressure laminate.

Metal-Art is regularly stocked in 4’ X 10’ sheets; however, 4’ X 8’ sheets are also available on a made-to-order basis. Contact your Architectural Representative or Customer Service for more information on special sizes.

Metal-Art Technical Information

The term “grade” actually refers to the thickness of the material. Metal-Art is offered in Vertical Grade which is .038” (0.97mm) thick. It is intended for vertical, non-working applications in commercial interiors such as wall paneling, elevator cab interiors, cabinetry, casino slot machine bases and bar fronts.

Metal-Art Installation and Maintenance

Metal-Art should be applied to suitable substrates such as 45 lb. density particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard (HDF), or any substrate that meets the ANSI 208.1 or 208.2 standards. We do not recommend using plywood, plaster, gypsum board and concrete.

Suitable adhesives include contact, PVAc, urea, or resorcinol adhesives following adhesive’s manufacturer’s instructions. The substrate must be smooth and free of grease, dust, and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion. Keep solvents away from open flames and away from the glue line at the edges of the applied material.

Metal-Art and substrate should be allowed to acclimate for at least 72 hours in the same ambient conditions. Optimum conditions for preconditioning are approximately 75°F (24°C) with a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. Provisions should be made for the circulation of air around the components.

Metal-Art should be cleaned with a damp cloth and gentle, rubbing motion. The cloth should be soft and clean; microfiber is preferred, as some paper towels may be abrasive. If necessary, ordinary soap or household cleaner may be used for more difficult stains. Avoid abrasive cleaning products, solvents, polish or scrapers. For post-fabrication stain removal, it is recommended that the cleanser be tested in an inconspicuous area.